The Postdoctoral Programme at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) is a structured academic and professional development programme designed for early-career scholars. It integrates research, applied research, teaching, and institutional activities, with the goal of nurturing the next generation of interdisciplinary faculty and scholar-practitioners.

The vision is to create the next generation of interdisciplinary faculty, researchers and applied researchers for IIHS as well across higher education and research institutions in India.

The IIHS postdoctoral programme is an interdisciplinary programme, focused on human settlements ranging from the semi-wild to urban metropolitan regions. It is positioned at the intersection of research, applied research and pedagogy, drawing on IIHS’ extensive experience over the last 17 years as a leading knowledge institution in India and the Global South. Fellows are expected to contribute to research, teaching as applicable as well as engage in broader institutional activities.

Postdoctoral Fellows are affiliated with one of the five IIHS Schools as their primary institutional home while collaborating across Schools, Centres and Labs. The programme includes structured mentoring, research and applied research engagement, teaching responsibilities as applicable, and periodic performance reviews.

The Schools at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) are structured around broad, interdisciplinary thematic domains that address key challenges and opportunities emerging from processes of urbanisation and regional transformation. They are organised to integrate research, teaching, policy engagement, and implementation within coherent thematic areas, while enabling collaboration across domains and Labs.

There are currently five IIHS Schools:

1. School of Governance (SoG) – Urban Governance, Public & Infrastructure Finance, Infrastructure Regulation & Decarbonisation, Materials Governance & Sustainable Development, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development.
2. School of Economic Development (SED) – Urban & Regional Economic Development, Land & Real Estate, Employment & Livelihoods, Housing, Urban Infrastructure & Finance.
3. School of Human Development (SHD) – Social Inequality & Stratification, Urban Culture & Everyday Life, Urban Health Systems, Social Protection, Affordable Housing.
4. School of Systems and Infrastructure (SSI) – Infrastructure & Services Governance, Water Systems, Energy Systems, High Performance Buildings, Resilient Infrastructure & Services.
5. School of Environment and Sustainability (SES) – Climate Change Adaptation, Aquatic & Water Systems, Food and Agricultural Systems, Ecological Economics, Climate & Environmental Governance.

These Schools collectively integrate research, teaching and applied research across the urban–regional continuum.

The eligible candidates must

• Have completed a PhD within the previous two years (or be at submission stage, subject to completion of degree requirements).
• Demonstrate a strong publication record.
• Have prior teaching experience.
• Show interest in applied research.
• Be Indian citizens (the programme is currently open only to Indian citizens).

Are we flexing it to three?

No, this programme is currently open only to Indian citizens.

Candidates should have been awarded their PhD within two years prior to the application date.

Yes, candidates who are at the submission stage of their PhD may apply to the Postdoctoral Programme. The application form includes a section for candidates to indicate their expected submission date. While you may apply before submitting your thesis, final selection and appointment will be subject to confirmation of the PhD award within the stipulated timeline.

The Schools at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) are structured around broad, interdisciplinary thematic domains that address key challenges and opportunities emerging from processes of urbanisation and regional transformation. They are organised to integrate research, teaching, policy engagement, and implementation within coherent thematic areas, while enabling collaboration across domains and Labs.

You are expected to apply to the School that best aligns with your research focus and proposed area of work. You should carefully review the thematic areas and ongoing research within the programme to determine where your work most closely fits. If your work intersects multiple areas, you may indicate your first and second preferences, prioritising the strongest alignment.

While the programme is interdisciplinary, your specific research focus and priorities should align with the overall aims and objectives of the School(s) you choose, which will also be evaluated during the administrative shortlisting process.

To maintain the integrity of the selection process, individual interactions with Faculty members are not encouraged at the application stage. Post their review, shortlisted candidates will proceed through a structured selection process.

In addition to meeting the primary eligibility criteria, candidates will be assessed on the following:

• Academic Record: A strong history of teaching and high-quality publications.
• Research Alignment: A clear interest in applied research and interdisciplinary urban practice.
• Methodological Depth: The ability to apply heterodox methods to broad questions across multiple IIHS Schools.

The documents (pdf format) required for submission of the application form are

• Resume/ CV
• Cover Letter
• Teaching Statement
• Research Statement
• Brief write-up on publications
• Educational certificates

Any document being uploaded during the application process must be in PDF format.

The requirements and instructions for the research statement, teaching statement and the brief write-up on publications are provided within the application portal at the time of uploading each document. Please refer to these instructions while preparing and submitting your materials. There are no additional separate templates or guidelines prescribed beyond what is mentioned in the application.

Applicants are required to submit a Teaching Statement (up to 1000 words). The statement should outline your teaching philosophy and practice, with particular attention to how you design inclusive, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented learning environments. Please describe your goals for students, the strategies and methods you employ to achieve them, and how you assess and respond to diverse learning needs. Please also include one sample course; this may be something you have already taught or are planning to teach.

No, you are not required to submit a fully developed research proposal at the time of application. Specific research plans and expected outputs are typically refined in consultation with the assigned supervisor after the initial stages of selection. However, you must submit a research statement outlining your proposed area of work as part of the application process.

Applicants are required to submit a Research Statement (up to 1,500 words). The statement should provide a clear account of your scholarly trajectory, highlighting your doctoral research, ongoing projects, and the proposed agenda for your postdoctoral work at IIHS. You are encouraged to articulate the originality, significance, and broader impact of your work, situating it within relevant disciplinary and interdisciplinary debates. Please indicate potential collaborations, methodological approaches, and how your research aligns with IIHS’ engagement in interdisciplinary fields. Please also upload one academic writing sample in addition to this. This may be a journal manuscript or a chapter from your thesis. If you submit a multi-authored piece, please clearly indicate your contribution.

In case you have any publications in peer reviewed journals, we’d like you to upload a brief write-up on those in PDF. There is no specific format that needs to be followed. This is intended to be a short narrative summary highlighting your key publications and their central contributions. You may also briefly note your role in co-authored works, where applicable.

Yes, applicants are required to provide their Google Scholar, ORCID and LinkedIn profile links as part of the application. If they do not have them, these profiles should be created and then updated as part of the application process.

The educational certificates that are mandatory are

• Graduation Certificate and Marksheet (consolidated/ all semesters)
• Post Graduation Certificate and Marksheet (consolidated/ all semesters)
• PhD Certificate and Marksheet

Postdoctoral Fellows will receive a monthly compensation of INR 1,25,000/-. Since the amount is paid as professional compensation, it is subject to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) as per the prevailing Indian Income Tax regulations.

Postdoctoral Fellows at IIHS will be affiliated with a specific School as their primary base. They are expected to contribute to research, teaching as applicable, applied research, and broader institutional responsibilities.

Key expectations include:

• Research and Applied Research:
  • Align research focus with IIHS research themes.
  • Contribute to collective School research and applied research initiatives.
  • Develop and submit at least one external grant proposal in the second year.
• Teaching (as applicable):
  • Teach in the Masters and, potentially, Undergraduate programmes.
    • Co-teach in the first year with supervisors, mentors, or faculty, as needed.
    • Offer at least one thematic elective or methods course in the second year, in consultation with (Associate) School Deans and (Associate) Academic Programme Directors.
  • Assist with doctoral seminars, Summer/ Winter Schools, and faculty development activities, as required.
• Public Engagement:
  • Deliver at least one talk or undertake broader public engagement each year.
• Institutional Engagement:
  • Allocate a minimum of 20% of time each to the IIHS Research Programme and the Practice/ Applied Research Programme.
  • Participate in other institutional engagements and roles, as appropriate.

The programme offers focused training and mentoring to help Postdoctoral Fellows build capacities across the Research and Applied Research Programmes at IIHS. This is developed in collaboration with the five interdisciplinary IIHS Schools, as well as relevant Centres and Labs, ensuring integrated and cross-cutting engagement. In addition, fellows will receive structured mentoring and training to develop interdisciplinary pedagogical approaches, equipping them with the skills and experience needed for effective teaching.

Postdoctoral Fellows will receive institutional support across research, teaching, and professional development functions, along with mentoring from the wider IIHS network.

Specific support includes:

• Research Funding and Resources:
  • Access to internal research funding through a competitive process, along with support for fieldwork, equipment, and other research needs.
  • Conference funding for one international conference annually (subject to institutional caps and policies).
• Capacity Development:
  • Focused development in pedagogy and research, including enrolment in relevant IIHS courses and collaborative work with supervisors (e.g., course development, co-teaching, proposal writing).
• Mentoring:
  • An assigned mentor in addition to their supervisor; mentors may be from any School, Programme, Lab, Centre, or Function within IIHS.
• Institutional Access:
  • Access to IIHS Labs (such as Word Lab, Media Lab, Geospatial Lab, Urban Informatics Lab, and the Long-term Urban Ecological Observatory), the IIHS Library, and campus infrastructure, recreation, and sports facilities.

Yes. You will have the ability to participate in multiple ways with the broader research and applied research community – through engagements with the IIHS network and various IIHS platforms (such as the IIHS Urban Annual Research Conference, Urban Policy Dialogues, etc.). Postdoctoral fellows at IIHS will also receive support to attend conferences and be encouraged to participate in other activities related to their research wherever possible.

Yes. Postdoctoral Fellows may be eligible to transition into Faculty roles at the IIHS University, as Assistant Professors, subject to IIHS procedures. This progression may begin with a role within the IIHS Research or Applied Research Programmes, Centres, or Labs. Subsequent transition to a formal Faculty appointment is contingent upon meeting University requirements and is subject to UGC-mandated selection procedures and timelines.

The IIHS Postdoctoral Programme has served as a space for knowledge creation and learning for early-career scholars over the years. Some have transitioned into Faculty or other comparable roles at IIHS, while others have moved into academic and professional trajectories across India and internationally.

Candidates are appointed to the programme for an initial period of one year. Based on performance and Institutional requirements, the appointment may be extended for an additional year, subject to IIHS procedures.

• Current cycle (2026):Rolling review until cut-off on 31st March 2026; target commencement of programme in July 2026.
• Post the July 2026 cycle — two cycles per year:
  • Cycle 1: Applications received till 15th September → will be eligible to join the January cohort
  • Cycle 2: Applications received till 15th March → will be eligible to join the July cohort

Candidates may submit their applications at any time during the year. Applications will be considered in the cycle closest to the date of completion.

The total time from submission of a completed application to review will typically range from between 3 to 6 months. The review process involves multiple steps that include assessment of fit, interactions with IIHS faculty and researchers, and presentations to the Postdoctoral Committee. Details of these will be communicated to shortlisted applicants as needed.

For all technical or submission related queries, write to Postdoc.Recruitment@iihs.co.in